Indications and Surgical Results of Twist-Drill Craniostomy at the Pre-Coronal Point for Symptomatic Chronic Subdural Hematoma Patients

Objective

Twist-drill craniostomy (TDC) with closed-system drainage and burr-hole drainage (BHD) with a closed system are effective treatment options for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). The aim of this study was to analyze clinical data and surgical results from symptomatic CSDH patients who underwent TDC with closed-system drainage at the pre-coronal point (PCP).

Methods

We analyzed data for 134 symptomatic CSDH patients who underwent TDC at the PCP with closed-system drainage. We defined the PCP for TDC to be 1 cm anterior to the coronal suture at the level of superior temporal line. TDC at the PCP with closed-system drainage was selected in patients with CSDH that extended beyond the coronal suture, confirmed by preoperative CT scans. Medical records, radiological findings, and clinical performance were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Of the 134 CSDH patients, 114 (85.1%) showed improved clinical performance and imaging findings after surgery. Catheter failures were seen in two cases (1.4%); the catheters were inserted in the epidural space. Recurrent cases were seen in eight patients (5.6%), and they were improved with a second BHD with a closed-system operation.

Conclusion

TDC at the PCP with closed-system drainage is safe and effective for patients with symptomatic CSDH whose hematomas extend beyond the coronal suture.     

One vs. Two Burr Hole Craniostomy in Surgical Treatment of Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Objective

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common types of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage, usually occurring in the older patients, with a good surgical prognosis. Burr hole craniostomy is the most frequently used neurosurgical treatment of CSDH. However, there have been only few studies to assess the role of the number of burr holes in respect to recurrence rates. The aim of this study is to compare the postoperative recurrence rates between one and two burr craniostomy with closed-system drainage for CSDH.

Methods

From January 2002 to December 2006, 180 consecutive patients who were treated with burr hole craniostomy with closed-system drainage for the symptomatic CSDH were enrolled. Pre- and post-operative computed tomography (CT) scans and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used for radiological evaluation. The number of burr hole was decided by neurosurgeon''s preference and was usually made on the maximum width of hematoma. The patients were followed with clinical symptoms or signs and CT scans. All the drainage catheters were maintained below the head level and removed after CT scans showing satisfactory evacuation. All patients were followed-up for at least 1 month after discharge.

Results

Out of 180 patients, 51 patients were treated with one burr hole, whereas 129 were treated with two burr holes. The overall postoperative recurrence rate was 5.6% (n = 10/180) in our study. One of 51 patients (2.0%) operated on with one burr hole recurred, whereas 9 of 129 patients (7.0%) evacuated by two burr holes recurred. Although the number of burr hole in this study is not statistically associated with postoperative recurrence rate (p > 0.05), CSDH treated with two burr holes showed somewhat higher recurrence rates.

Conclusion

In agreement with previous studies, burr hole craniostomy with closed drainage achieved a good surgical prognosis as a treatment of CSDH in this study. Results of our study indicate that burr hole craniostomy with one burr hole would be sufficient to evacuate CSDH with lower recurrence rate.     

应用Subdural专用引流管治疗慢性硬膜下血肿

目的比较钻孔闭式引流和Subdural专用引流管穿刺引流在慢性硬膜下血肿(CSDH)中的疗效。方法回顾分析我院收治的88例CSDH患者,46例行钻孔闭式引流(A组),42例行Subdural专用引流管穿刺引流术(B组),比较两组治疗效果。结果A组40例一次钻孔引流成功,6例因继发颅内血肿而改行开颅手术,再手术率13.04%,癫发作3例;B组41例一次性引流成功,1例因继发血肿再次手术,再手术率2.38%,无癫发作。结论Subdural引流术较钻孔冲洗闭式引流术更微创、更安全有效,并发症少,宜作为治疗CSDH的首选方法。     

Contralateral acute subdural hematoma occurring after evacuation of subdural hematoma with coexistent contralateral subdural hygroma

Burr-hole craniostomy with closed-system drainage is a safe and effective method for the management of chronic subdural hematoma. However, contralateral acute subdural hematoma has been reported to be a rare and devastating complication. Only 3 cases have been described in the literature. Herein, we reported an 80-year-old male with chronic subdural hematoma and contralateral subdural hygroma. The burr-hole craniostomy with closed-system drainage was initially performed to treat the chronic subdural hematoma. Three days after surgery, weakness of the extremities developed, and contralateral acute subdural bleeding within the previous subdural hygroma was diagnosed by CT scan of the brain. The pathophysiological mechanism of this rare complication was discussed, and the relevant literature was also reviewed.Chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) is one of the most common entities managed in daily neurosurgical practice, and is known to have a good prognosis after minimal burr-hole craniostomy.1 Ipsilateral acute SDH or recurrence of hematoma is the most well-documented complication of this simple surgery.1-3 However, the development of a contralateral acute SDH following burr-hole craniostomy with closed-system drainage has been previously reported to be a rare but devastating postoperative complication.4,5 Herein, we report a case of contralateral acute SDH occurring after evacuation of chronic SDH with the coexistence of contralateral subdural hygroma. The relevant literature is also reviewed. Our objective in presenting this particular case is to highlight this rare but devastating complication in the management of this disease.     

钻孔闭式引流和YL-1型穿刺针引流治疗慢性硬膜下血肿的疗效观察

目的比较钻孔闭式引流和YL—1型穿刺针引流在治疗慢性硬膜下血肿(CSDH)的疗效。方法回顾分析了我院收治的62例CSDH病人,45例行钻孔闭式引流术(甲组),17例行YL—1型穿刺针引流术(乙组),比较两组治疗效果。结果甲组复发率为6.5％,并发症率为4.1％,乙组复发率为27.7％,并发症率为22.2％。结论钻孔闭式引流较YL-1型穿刺针引流可明显减少CSDH复发率和并发症发生率。     

Chronic Subdural Hematoma Treated by Small or Large Craniotomy with Membranectomy as the Initial Treatment

Objective

There are few studies comparing small and large craniotomies for the initial treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) which had non-liquefied hematoma, multilayer intrahematomal loculations, or organization/calcification on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. These procedures were compared to determine which would produce superior postoperative results.

Methods

Between 2001 and 2009, 317 consecutive patients were surgically treated for CSDH at our institution. Of these, 16 patients underwent a small craniotomy with partial membranectomy and 42 patients underwent a large craniotomy with extended membranectomy as the initial treatment. A retrospective review was performed to compare the postoperative outcomes of these two techniques, focusing on improvement of neurological status, complications, reoperation rate, and days of post-operative hospitalization.

Results

The mean ages were 69.4±12.1 and 55.6±9.3 years in the small and large craniotomy groups, respectively. The recurrence of hematomas requiring reoperation occurred in 50% and 10% of the small and large craniotomy patients, respectively (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in postoperative neurological status, complications, or days of hospital stay between these two groups.

Conclusion

Among the cases of CSDH initially requiring craniotomy, the large craniotomy with extended membranectomy technique reduced the reoperation rate, compared to that of the small craniotomy with partial membranectomy technique.     

Clinical Analysis of Risk Factors Related to Recurrent Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Objective

Burr hole drainage has been widely used to treat chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). However, the incidence of recurrent CSDH varies from 3.7 to 30% after surgery. The authors attempted to elucidate the risk factors associated with the recurrence of CSDH in one burr hole drainage technique.

Methods

A total of 255 consecutive cases who underwent one burr hole drainage for CSDH were included in this study. Twenty-four patients (9.4%) underwent a repeated operation because of the recurrence of CSDH. We analyzed retrospectively the demographic, clinical and radiologic factors associated with the recurrence of CSDH.

Results

In this study, two risk factors were found to be independently associated with the recurrence of CSDH. The incidence of CSDH recurrence in the high- and mixed-density groups was significantly higher than those in the low- and iso-density groups (p<0.001). Bleeding tendency such as in leukemia, liver disease and chronic renal failure was also significantly associated with recurrence of CSDH (p=0.037).

Conclusion

These results suggest that high- and mixed- density shown on computed tomographic scan was closely relates with a high incidence of recurrence. Therefore, the operation could be delayed in those cases unless severe symptoms or signs are present. Reoperation using the previous burr hole site is a preferred modality to treat the recurrent CSDH.     

一种新型封闭式钻孔引流术治疗慢性硬膜下血肿的临床疗效初步观察

目的观察慢性硬膜下血肿（CSDH）患者行单骨孔封闭冲洗及骨膜下引流术的疗效。 方法选取江阴市人民医院神经外科自2017年1月至2019年6月收治的CSDH患者106例,分为常规单骨孔钻孔引流术组（常规组）和单骨孔封闭冲洗及骨膜下引流术组（封闭组）,对2组患者的手术疗效及并发症进行统计分析。 结果2组患者的手术疗效比较差异无统计学意义（Z=0.262,P>0.05）;封闭组术后颅内积气量明显低于常规组,差异有统计学意义（Z=3.963,P<0.05）;2组患者术后症状性气颅、脑损伤、切口脑脊液漏、癫痫发作、血肿复发的发生率比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 结论单骨孔封闭冲洗及骨膜下引流术治疗CSDH能明显降低术后颅内积气,是一种简单、有效、安全的治疗手段。     

What Determines the Laterality of the Chronic Subdural Hematoma?

Objective

Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDH) are more common on the left hemisphere than on the right. We verified this left predilection of CSDH and tried to explain the reason for this discrepancy.

Methods

We investigated the laterality of CSDH in 182 patients who were treated from January 2005 to December 2009. We examined the symmetry of the cranium and the location of the lesion.

Results

CSDH was more common on the left-side. The cranium was symmetric in 63 patients, asymmetric in 119 patients. The asymmetric crania were flat on the right-side in 77 patients, on the left-side in 42 patients. The density of the CSDHs was hypodense in 29 patients, isodense 132 patients, and the others in 21 patients. Bilateral hematomas were more common in the hypodense group. In the right flat crania, the hematoma was more commonly located on the opposite side of the flat side. While in the left flat crania, the hematoma was more common on the same side.

Conclusion

CSDHs occurred more frequently on the left side. The anatomical asymmetry of the cranium influences the left predilection of CSDH.     

Postoperative Course and Recurrence of Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Objective

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is known to have a significant recurrence rate. There are different criteria defining the recurrence of CSDH. We evaluated the postoperative course of CSDH and tried to propose the reasonable criteria of recurrence.

Methods

We retrospectively examined the medical records and pre- and postoperative CT scans of 149 consecutive patients who underwent surgery from January 2005 to December 2009. Diagnosis was confirmed by CT scanning or MRI. The postoperative courses were either resolved or recurrent. The resolved CSDH was one of the three types; early resolution, delayed resolution, or late resolution. The recurrent CSDH was one of the four types; recurrence without resolution, early recurrence after resolution, late recurrence after resolution, or recurrent-and-resolved type.

Results

The CSDH was resolved within 30 days after surgery in 58 (39%) patients, between 1 to 3 months in 62 (42%), and after 3 months in 11 (7%) patients. The CSDH was recurred in 18 (12%) patients. Late resolution or recurrence was more common in the aged. The recurrent hematoma was seen on the same side in 11 patients, on the different side in 7 patients. Recurrence was significantly more common in the thick hematomas.

Conclusion

For a working criteria of the recurrence of CSDH, we propose the early recurrence as return of symptoms or reaccumulation of the hematoma after a surgery within 3 months regardless of the location, amount or repeated operations. The late recurrence can be defined as reappearance or enlargement of a liquefied hematoma within the cranial cavity surrounded by the membranes or persistent CSDH beyond 3 months after surgery.     

Early post-operative seizures after burr-hole drainage for chronic subdural hematoma: correlation with brain CT findings.

The incidence of seizures in patients undergoing burr-hole crainiostomy with closed-system drainage for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is low. The post-operative use of anticonvulsants is, thus, controversial. In this study, we tried to correlate pre-operative computed tomographic (CT) appearance of the CSDH with the need for post-operative seizure prophylaxis. From April 1998 to November 2001, 128 cases of CSDH surgically treated at our hospital were studied. All patients underwent burr-hole craniostomy with closed system drainage. All CSDHs were classified as low-density, isodense, and mixed-density lesions according to CT findings. The incidence of early post-operative seizures (within 3 weeks of surgery) among all patients was 5.4% (7/128). In the subgroups by lesion density, the incidences were 6.2% (1/16) in the low-density group, 2.4% (2/83) in the isodense group, and 13.7% (4/29) in the mixed-density group (all p < 0.05). The mean age among the seven patients (five males and two females) who had seizures was 71 years. The locations of the CSDHs among the 128 patients were the left side of the brain in 53 (41.4%) patients, right side in 45 (35.2%), and bilateral in 30 (23.4%) patients. Among the seven patients who suffered from post-operative seizures, five (71.4%) had left side CSDHs, one (14.2%) had a right side CSDH, and one (14.2%) had bilateral CSDHs. We concluded that the post-operative seizure rate appeared high in the group with mixed-density type lesions on CT, and in those with left unilateral CSDH. We suggest the use of prophylactic anticonvulsants for patients with mixed-density lesions on pre-operative CT.     

Is the recurrence rate of chronic subdural hematomas dependent on the duration of drainage?

Objectives: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is the most frequent type of intracranial hemorrhage which especially affects the elderly. Various surgical techniques have been reported for CSDH treatment; optimal treatment methods are still controversial. In this study, the effects of long drainage durations on results and recurrences were investigated in patients on whom closed system drainage with burr hole craniotomy was applied due to CSDH.

Methods: 90 patients with 105 CSDH were operated between 2008 and 2016. Patients were divided into two groups based on the duration of drainage. Group A (n = 40) was determined as 2–4 days of closed-system drainage, while Group B (n = 50) was recorded as 5–7 days of closed-system drainage. Recurrence was defined as accumulation of blood in the operation area and recurrence of symptoms within the monitoring period of six months.

Results: Recurrence was observed in 7 (15.6) of the Group A patients and 2 (3.3%) of the Group B patients. There was a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of recurrence rate (p = 0.04). Postoperative thickness of hematoma was measured in the first month follow-up computerized tomography. There was a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of postoperative thickness of residual hematoma (p = 0.05).

Conclusion: 2–4 days of closed system drainage following burr hole craniotomy is an effective and reliable choice of treatment in CSDH. Nevertheless, increasing the duration of drainage to 5–7 days provided better results without increasing the risk of complication.     

Incidence and Risk Factors of Chronic Subdural Hematoma after Surgical Clipping for Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms

Objective

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a rare complication of unruptured aneurysm clipping surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors of postoperative CSDH after surgical clipping for unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms.

Methods

This retrospective study included 518 patients from a single tertiary institute from January 2008 to December 2013. CSDH was defined as subdural hemorrhage which needed surgical treatment. The degree of brain atrophy was estimated using the bicaudate ratio (BCR) index. We used uni- and multivariate analyses to identify risk factors correlated with CSDH.

Results

Sixteen (3.1%) patients experienced postoperative CSDH that required burr hole drainage surgery. In univariate analyses, male gender (p<0.001), size of aneurysm (p=0.030), higher BCR index (p=0.004), and the use of antithrombotic medication (p=0.006) were associated with postoperative CSDH. In multivariate analyses using logistic regression test, male gender [odds ratio (OR) 4.037, range 1.287-12.688], high BCR index (OR 5.376, range 1.170-25.000), and the use of antithrombotic medication (OR 4.854, range 1.658-14.085) were associated with postoperative CSDH (p<0.05). Postoperative subdural fluid collection and arachnoid plasty were not showed statistically significant difference in this study.

Conclusion

The incidence of CSDH was 3.1% in unruptured anterior circulation aneurysm surgery. This study shows that male gender, degree of brain atrophy, and the use of antithrombotic medication were associated with postoperative CSDH.     

负压抽吸冲洗在慢性硬膜下血肿术后早期脑复位中的作用

目的分析探讨负压抽吸冲洗在慢性硬膜下血肿术后早期脑复位中的作用。 方法回顾性分析第三军医大学第三附属医院神经外科自2009年7月至2015年7月收治的287例慢性硬膜下血肿患者的临床资料,每例均行颅骨钻单孔,术中开放冲洗78例,闭合等量置换冲洗94例,负压抽吸冲洗115例,术后均置管闭合引流1~3 d,平卧致引流管拔除。全部病例均在术后24~72 h内复查头颅CT 1~2次,记录术后脑复位较好1次CT所示残腔最大厚度占术前血肿腔最大厚度的比值(脑膨胀率),分别计算开放冲洗组、闭合等量置换冲洗组和负压抽吸冲洗组所得脑膨胀率的标准差。记录所有病例术后早期(≤7 d)的并发症,包括出血、癫痫和感染,术后晚期(≥3个月)并发症,包括硬膜下积液和复发血肿。采用SPSS15.0统计软件对各组标准差进行方差分析,各组临床资料构成比进行χ²检验。 结果各组冲洗方法术后脑膨胀率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。各组临床资料构成比的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。各组病例出血、癫痫、感染等早期(≤7 d)并发症的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。 结论针对术后早期(≤72 h)脑复位来讲,术中负压抽吸冲洗优于闭合等量置换冲洗,闭合等量置换冲洗优于开放冲洗。负压抽吸冲洗方法治疗慢性硬膜下血肿是有效、安全的。     

Surgery for Bilateral Large Intracranial Traumatic Hematomas: Evacuation in a Single Session

Objective

Management guidelines for single intracranial hematomas have been established, but the optimal management of multiple hematomas has little known. We present bilateral traumatic supratentorial hematomas that each has enough volume to be evacuated and discuss how to operate effectively it in a single anesthesia.

Methods

In total, 203 patients underwent evacuation and/or decompressive craniectomies for acute intracranial hematomas over 5 years. Among them, only eight cases (3.9%) underwent operations for bilateral intracranial hematomas in a single session. Injury mechanism, initial Glasgow Coma Scale score, types of intracranial lesions, surgical methods, and Glasgow outcome scale were evaluated.

Results

The most common injury mechanism was a fall (four cases). The types of intracranial lesions were epidural hematoma (EDH)/intracerebral hematoma (ICH) in five, EDH/EDH in one, EDH/subdural hematoma (SDH) in one, and ICH/SDH in one. All cases except one had an EDH. The EDH was addressed first in all cases. Then, the evacuation of the ICH was performed through a small craniotomy or burr hole. All patients except one survived.

Conclusion

Bilateral intracranial hematomas that should be removed in a single-session operation are rare. Epidural hematomas almost always occur in these cases and should be removed first to prevent the hematoma from growing during the surgery. Then, the other hematoma, contralateral to the EDH, can be evacuated with a small craniotomy.     

Recent Changes in Risk Factors of Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Objective

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a typical disease that is encountered frequently in neurosurgical practice. The medications which could cause coagulopathies were known as one of the risk factors of CSDH, such as anticoagulants (ACs) and antiplatelet agents (APs). Recently, the number of patients who are treated with ACs/APs is increasing, especially in the elderly population. With widespread use of these drugs, there is a need to study the changes in risk factors of CSDH patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 290 CSDH patients who underwent surgery at our institute between 1996 and 2010. We classified them into three groups according to the time of presentation (Group A : the remote period group, 1996-2000, Group B : the past period group, 2001-2005, and Group C : the recent period group, 2006-2010). Also, we performed the comparative analysis of independent risk factors between three groups.

Results

Among the 290 patients, Group A included 71 patients (24.5%), Group B included 98 patients (33.8%) and Group C included 121 patients (41.7%). Three patients (4.2%) in Group A had a history of receiving ACs/APs, 8 patients (8.2%) in Group B, and 19 patients (15.7%) in Group C. Other factors such as head trauma, alcoholism, epilepsy, previous neurosurgery and underlying disease having bleeding tendency were also evaluated. In ACs/APs related cause of CSDH in Group C, significantly less proportion of the patients are associated with trauma or alcohol compared to the non-medication group.

Conclusion

In this study, the authors concluded that ACs/APs have more importance as a risk factor of CSDH in the recent period compared to the past. Therefore, doctors should prescribe these medications carefully balancing the potential risk and benefit.     

Acute-on-Chronic Subdural Hematoma: Not Uncommon Events

Objective

Patients with asymptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) are prone to fall or slip. Acute trauma on these patients may develop acute subdural bleeding over the chronic SDH. We recently experienced 9 patients with acute-on-chronic SDH. We report the clinical and radiological features of this lesion.

Methods

We retrospectively examined the computed tomographic (CT) scans of 107 consecutive patients who diagnosed as chronic SDH from January 2008 to December 2010. All cases of CSDH were diagnosed on CT with or without MRI scan.

Results

Acute-on-chronic SDH is not rare, being 8% of chronic SDH. The most common cause of trauma was a slip in drunken state. Alcoholism with multiple episodes of trauma was one of the prominent histories. Acute-on-chronic SDH appeared as a hyperdense layer of clot with irregular blurred margin or lumps in liquefied hematoma. Single or two burr holes was usually effective to remove the hematoma.

Conclusion

Repeated trauma may cause acute bleeding over the chronic SDH. It will be helpful to understand the role of repeated trauma as a mechanism of hematoma enlargement.     

Contralateral acute epidural haematoma following evacuation of a chronic subdural haematoma with burr-hole craniostomy and continuous closed system drainage: a rare complication

Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) is one of the most frequent causes for neurosurgical intervention. Although the prognosis is generally good and treatment modalities are well established, some devastating intracranial haematomas can complicate its evacuation. The authors report here a case of an acute epidural haematoma occurring after evacuation of a contralateral chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) with burr-hole craniostomy and continuous closed system drainage without irrigation. Since this is a rare, but potentially life-threatening, complication, clinicians should suspect its occurrence when an unexpected postoperative course is demonstrated.     

What Should Be Considered to Cause the Early Post-Craniotomy Seizure: Antibiotics (Cefazolin) Irrigation

Objective

Post-craniotomy seizure (PCS) is reported only rarely. However, our department noted a 433% increase in PCS for a year beginning September 2010, especially after cerebrovascular surgery. Our goal was to identify the cause of our unusual outbreak of PCS.

Methods

For almost one year after September 2010, cases of PCS increased significantly in our department. We analyzed 973 patients who had received a major craniotomy between January 2009 and November 2011. We included seizures that occurred only in the first 24 postoperative hours, which we defined as early PCS. After verifying the presence of PCS, we analyzed multiple seizure-provoking factors and their relation to the duration and character of seizure activity.

Results

Overall PCS incidence was 7.2% (70/973). Cefazolin (2 g/L saline) was the antibiotic drug used for intraoperative irrigation in 88.4% of the operations, and no PCS occurred without intraoperative cefazolin irrigation. When analyzed by operation type, clipping surgery for unruptured aneurysms was the most frequently associated with PCS (80%). Using logistic regression, only 2 g cefazolin intraoperative irrigation (p=0.024) and unruptured aneurysm clipping surgery (p<0.001) were associated with early PCS. The seizure rate of unruptured aneurysm clipping surgery using 2 g cefazolin intraoperative irrigation was 32.9%.

Conclusion

Intraoperative cefazolin irrigation must be avoided in patients undergoing craniotomy, especially for clipping of unruptured aneurysms, because of the increased risk of early PCS.     

Stereotactic Multiplanar Reformatted Computed Tomography-Guided Catheter Placement and Thrombolysis of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hematomas

Objective

The authors present their experiences with stereotactic multiplanar reformatted (MPR) computed tomography (CT)-guided catheter placement for thrombolysis of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma (sICH) and their clinical results.

Methods

In 23 patients with sICH, MPR CT-guided catheter placement was used to select the trajectory and target point of hematoma drainage. This group was comprised of 11 men and 12 women, and the mean age was 57.5 years (range, 31-79 years). The patients'' initial Glasgow Coma Scale scores ranged from 7 to 15 with a median of 11. The volume of the hematoma ranged from 24 mL to 86 mL (mean 44.5 mL). A trajectory along the main axis of the hematoma was considered to be optimal for thrombolytic therapy. The trajectory was calculated from the point of entry through the target point of the hematoma using reformatted images.

Results

The hematoma catheter was left in place for a median duration of 48.9 hours (range 34 to 62 hours). In an average of two days, the average residual hematoma volume was 6.2 mL (range 1.4 mL to 10.2 mL) and was reduced by an average of 84.7% (range 71.6% to 96.3%). The residual hematoma at postoperative seven days was less than 5 mL in all patients. There was no treatment-related death during hospitalization.

Conclusion

The present study indicates that stereotactic MPR CT-guided catheter placement for thrombolysis is an accurate and safe procedure. We suggest that this procedure for stereotactic removal of sICH should be considered for the optimization of the trajectory selection in the future.